Gambian Migrant Alleges Forced Deportation from Germany Despite Serious Health Issues

A Gambian migrant, Lamin, has alleged that he was forcibly deported from Germany despite facing serious health challenges. Lamin, who had legally resided in Germany for several years, claims that German police arrested him in his hospital bed while he was undergoing medical treatment and deported him to The Gambia, where he believes the healthcare system is inadequate.

According to him, he was admitted to a mental health hospital on a Saturday but was removed from the facility by Tuesday by two police officers and a doctor. He described the experience as dehumanizing, stating that he felt like he was being treated “like a slave or criminal.”

In an interview with Alkamba Times from Banjul, Lamin detailed his health struggles. “At the moment, I have lots of health issues. I am disabled, and I also have bladder problems, and my back hurts so bad. I have PTSD, mental illness, and hearing loss. All my doctors are in Germany, and I am recovering my treatment there.”

He also expressed concern over the involvement of hospital staff in his deportation, suggesting their actions violated legal and international standards. “The hospital staff also helped the authorities, which is not allowed in law and international laws,” he asserted. Upon arrival in The Gambia, he reported his grievances to Gambian immigration officers at the airport but was told that it was not their responsibility to intervene.

Lamin alleges that German authorities ignored his medical certificate and dismissed his concerns. “Unfortunately, the authorities for my case refuse to take my medical certificate seriously. All they say is that treatment is available in The Gambia,” he explained. However, he questioned the adequacy of medical care in his home country. “I asked them to provide a special doctor or hospital in Gambia where I can get my treatment without affecting my health because changing medication is not good; it causes side effects. They say they don’t know any doctor’s name, but they believe it’s available, even though the health system in Gambia is limited.”

Lamin claims to have lived independently in Germany, paying his bills and maintaining a stable life. He believes his deportation was politically motivated after a dispute with an official. “I don’t have any problems in Germany, and I live in my flat. I pay my bills on my own,” he said. “Since I had a misunderstanding with her, she started to fight to make sure that I leave the country, even though she knows that I am ill.”

He recounted difficulties in renewing his residence permit, which was due to expire soon. “My documents were about to expire in two weeks, so I took steps to renew them. I called the office, and one man told me my documents were on his table, and he would process them. But then, two officers were waiting for me outside. They asked for my ID, I showed them my disability ID, and they said I had to leave the country. Then they detained me.”

Although his lawyer secured his release from a deportation center once, he was later arrested again and deported. “The doctor told them that I have problems with my brain. When I get stressed, I become completely sick automatically, and it’s dangerous. I need special doctors,” he emphasized.

Lamin also claims that German authorities assured him that a doctor would be available at the airport in The Gambia to assist him and provide accommodations for treatment, but he insists these promises were misleading and unfulfilled. He possesses documentation supporting his claims and believes his deportation violated international human rights laws.

Meanwhile, Kemo Kebbeh, a Gambian human rights activist based in Germany, has strongly condemned Lamin’s deportation, calling it illegal and a violation of human rights. “No support was provided for him upon arrival at the airport,” Kebbeh stated. He also criticized the issuance of an emergency passport to someone undergoing medical treatment, especially when adequate healthcare services are unavailable in The Gambia.

Kebbeh further decried police brutality, pointing out that Lamin is not the only individual who has faced such treatment. He also expressed disappointment in the Gambian government, particularly the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, for failing to protect their citizens abroad.

He accused Gambian immigration officers stationed in Germany of playing a role in deportations by identifying Gambians to German authorities, which he claims has instilled fear in the Gambian community. “Many Gambians in Germany now hesitate to communicate in their local languages because they fear being identified and deported,” he said.

Lamin’s case raises critical questions about the handling of deportation cases involving individuals with serious health conditions and the responsibilities of host countries in ensuring medical continuity for vulnerable migrants.